Happy Anniversary ...

With so much bad economic news clogging the airwaves, it's easy sometimes to forget the good. We're happy to report, however, that over the past few weeks a number of indie bookstores across the country have reached significant milestones that were certainly cause for celebration.

The Odyssey Bookshop Turns 45

Stephen King and Richard Russo attended the 45th anniversary party of The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and the event served as a fundraiser for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as reported in the NEIBA Bookstore News. The bash was held at Chapin Hall on Mount Holyoke's campus.

About 1,200 people were there for the occasion, including customers, publishers, editors, relatives, authors, sales reps, and bookworms gathered "to eat, drink, and recall their own special memories of the Odyssey," NEIBA Bookstore News reported. The featured event was a conversation with King and Russo led by Joe Donahue, WAMC Northeast Public Radio host.

Accent on Books: 25 Years in Asheville

Accent on Books in Asheville, North Carolina, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The Ashville's Citizen-Times noted that the store, which specializes in children's books, regional authors, and theological and spiritual titles, was opened by co-owners Lewis Sorrells and Patrick Covington in 1973. The two had met when they worked as booksellers for B. Dalton Book Store at the Asheville Mall, the article noted.

As for the secret of the store's success, Covington told the Citizen-Times, "I think some people come to us because we're convenient, others because they like the atmosphere and individual customer service here. We think we have the best selection of children's books in this part of the state." In addition, the bookstore does well in part because it's part of a "dedicated reading community," the article stated.

Brace Books & More Celebrates 25 Years

This fall marks the 25th anniversary of Brace Books & More of Ponca City, Oklahoma. The bookstore, owned by Jean and Jerry Brace, occupies a 5,000-square-foot space that includes a coffee bar, as well as a broad variety of gift items. But first and foremost it offers "a large and diverse selection of books for all ages -- not just the bestsellers, but local authors, history, classics, Bibles, and children's favorites," said the owners.

Strong customer interest in the store's large cookbook selection led the Braces to add interesting kitchen gadgets, aprons, and cookware, which led the creation of a "cooking department." The store also offers a Book Angel Tree project to provide hundreds of books for needy children each year. Store patrons receive a discount on books they select for children whose names and reading levels are provided by the Salvation Army.

Katy Budget Books Turns 25

Katy Budget Books in Katy, Texas, is celebrating 25 years in business throughout 2008. The business, owned by Tamre Dore, is marking its silver milestone with author appearances and special events.

In September of this year, Dore told BTW that the bookstore had escaped Hurricane Ike unscathed, but her chief concern was the resultant loss of business. (Read more.)

Outwrite Celebrates 15 Years

On Saturday, November 15, Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse in Atlanta, Georgia, celebrated President-elect Obama's historic victory and its 15th birthday party. The bookstore started as "an idea posted on a community bulletin board in 1993" and is now one of the south's premiere GLBT landmarks.

Perhaps fittingly for a store that has become a gathering spot for progressives both gay and straight, the store's celebration fell on the national day of protest against California's Proposition 8. That night, the store and two area restaurants allowed their parking lots to be used for a candlelight vigil in support of gay marriage following the passage of Proposition 8 in California, as reported by Atlanta Progressive News.

Third Place Books Celebrates 10 Years, Plans a New Branch

Ron Sher opened Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington, in November 1998. Some 10 years later, "the owners and staff of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park are in a celebratory mood -- [its] location in a shopping mall is a magnet for book lovers, with an inventory of 200,000 new and used books and a full schedule of author readings and book events that draw overflow crowds, even on a weeknight," reported the Seattle Times. Sher also has a store in Seattle's Ravenna neighborhood and is planning to open another bookstore in Bremerton, the Times noted. The store threw itself a birthday party on November 10 with guests Garth Stein, Stephanie Kallos, Ivan Doig, Matt Ruff, Ann Rule, and Nancy Pearl.

Lyon Books and Learning Center Turns Five

Lyon Books and Learning Center in downtown Chico, California, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this month, was recently profiled in Chico Enterprise-Record. The store, which is filled with new and used books, CDs, games, magazines, and gifts, hosts about 40 events per year, reading groups, children's activities, and more.

Owner Heather Lyon told the newspaper that Lyon Books is more than a just store for her: "Family business is the backbone of American culture. It's a tough economy right now and independent bookselling is a troubled segment of the retail industry," she said. "I always hope that people will think of the small, locally-owned business. It's OK that Walmart is here, but we don't want it to be the only choice."

Lyon was honored this year with the City of Chico Mayor's Award for Achievement in the Arts, noted the Enterprise-Record.

Vroman's Turns 114

Any birthday over 100 is definitely cause for celebration, and on Friday, November 14, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California, celebrated its 114th. The birthday bash kicked off what is expected to be one of the store's busiest weeks of the year, with events featuring Martha Stewart, David Shannon, Lisa Leslie, and more.

This year, Vroman's was named Publishers Weekly Bookseller of the Year and publisher Peterson's awarded Vroman's a Peterson's Bookseller Travel Grant in recognition of its PW Bookseller of the Year honor.

Have a big anniversary or other milestone coming up? Please let Bookselling This Week know.